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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So, the son of a circus performer is likely to be also an artist himself. 12-year-old Matheus Felipe Jesus Silva was born in the circus. That is, ever since he was a baby, he’s lived in a trailer (a mobile home pulled by a car or a truck). His mother is a ballet dancer at CircoSpacial, where Matheus himself is also a performer since the age of 3.
He started doing presentations with clowns and nowadays he is a trapeze artist (just like his dad, who works in Europe), equilibrist and acrobat.
As the circus travels all over Brazil, Matheus changes schools very often. He studies in the morning, has rehearsals in the afternoon and, at weekends, he performs in the circus ring.
He says that this routine doesn’t disturb his studies and he wants to graduate in Physical Education. “But I want to work in the circus forever.” On account of the mobility of his life and his outgoing nature, Matheus makes new friends wherever he goes and keeps in touch with them through the internet. “Kids think that I have a peculiar way of life and come to the circus to watch my show,” he adds.
On his days off, he likes to go to the movies, to the mall and to shows. Read on to see his favorite film, book, CD and website.
Revista TAM Kids, julho/agosto 2011.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE TEXT
1. One may say that Matheus
a) spends most of his time watching films and reading books.
b) will become the owner of the circus in a vey short future.
c) has vowed to act just like his father.
d) has no longer the wish of working as a circus performer in the future.
e) is an easy-going guy and gets acquainted well with others.

2. Which means of communication does Matheus usually use to get in touch with his pals?
a) Mail.
b) Phone.
c) Internet.
d) Post-office.
e) Letters.

3. How long has Matheus been working at the CircoSpacial?
a) For 9 years.
b) For 3 years.
c) For 12 years.
d) Since he was born.
e) Since his mother has delivered him.

4. One can relate ...”mobility of his life...” to the words
a) clowns and kids.
b) trucks and trailers.
c) circus and ballet dancers.
d) cars and lack of routine.
e) movies and new friends.

Monday, November 14, 2011

On November 10th, Rio police arrested Antonio Francisco Bomfim Lopes, alias Nem, the drug lord of Rocinha, the city's biggest slum as they get ready to take control of the area from drug traffickers, in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
Wednesday at dawn, about 50 men from the military police's Special Forces blocked a road leading to the Rocinha slum, controlled by drug traffickers for 30 years, to search all incoming vehicles.
All in preparation for pacification operation expected this coming weekend. Two other drug traffickers were also arrested: "Peixe" and "Coelho," the latter being the right-hand man of Nem.
Built on a steep hillside overlooking the "Marvelous City" and located between two wealthy neighborhoods, Rocinha is home to 150,000 people and is a drug trafficking bastion. Police said Rocinha will become the 19th favela to be ridden of traffickers who have been in control for the past 30 years.
Since 2008, authorities in Rio, which has one of the highest murder rates in the country, have been in a race to restore security in the city before the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics which Brazil will host.
Local press reports and some residents said police were expected to make their move Sunday. Their aim, according to the newspaper O Dia, was to "snuff out drug trafficking" before the assault by security forces backed by commandos and naval armored vehicles.
In another sign that the police assault was imminent, local drug baron Nem, on Sunday gave a farewell party and imposed a curfew on Rocinha.
Police had offered a 2,900-dollar-reward for information leading to the capture of Nem, who reportedly had to be treated at a local health clinic after he drank liquor mixed with ecstasy at Sunday's farewell party.
Endemic and chronic urban violence has long sullied the image of Rio, where more than 1.5 million people (a third of the city's population) live in 1,000 slums spread throughout the city.
But what the Brazilian population really wants is the answer for the following question: When will the corrupt policemen be arrested?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Jewish reggae musician. He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania and grew up in White Plains, New York. When he was in high school he returned to religious observance following a trip to Israel. Upon his return to the U.S., he left school and starting reggae and hip-hop. When he was 19, he moved to New York and enrolled in university at the New School for Social Research and also started attending a synagogue regularly. After meeting with a rabbi, he also decided to change his name to Matisyahu. Since then he divides his time between studying in a yeshiva and performing in New York clubs.

Matisyahu's music, which is a mix of influences ranging from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach to Bob Marley, can be described as Hasidic reggae that deals mainly with faith in God and brotherhood among people (a characteristic in reggae music of all kinds). Matisyahu frequently deals in his songs with the personal change he underwent and his life as a religious Jew in a modern society.

Here is one of his songs:

And here is the lyrics:

One Day

Sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
and pray

Don't take me soon
cause I'm here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
So my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because

All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play
one day

It's not about
win or loose
because we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pain
keep on moving though the water's staging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we dont wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
that our children will play

one day
one day this all will change
treat poeple the same
stop with the violence
down the the pain
one day we'll all be free

and proud to be
under the same
singing songs of freedom

one day
all my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
they'll be no more wars
and our children will play